Saint Joseph Catholic Church

Pope Leo XIV received King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia of Spain on March 20, the day of the king’s installation as proto-canon of the Papal Basilica of Saint Mary Major.

Following the papal audience, the king and queen met with Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Secretary of State of His Holiness, and Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, Secretary for Relations with States and International Organizations.

According to a statement from the Holy See Press Office, the parties discussed “a number of current issues concerning the situation in the country and the Church’s mission in society,” as well as “some topics of a regional and international nature, highlighting the importance of constant commitment in support of peace and the reinforcement of the principles and values that underpin international coexistence.”

Pope Leo is scheduled to visit Spain from June 6-12. The nation of 47.3 million is 85% Christian (81% Catholic) and 3% Muslim.

In the most prominent front-page article in its March 20 edition, the Vatican newspaper lamented the plight of “over a million persons in Lebanon displaced because of the war, 350,000 of whom are children.”

“They live in constant dread, unsure of what life will bring the next day—where to find shelter, what to put on the table for their children, or whether those children will be able to continue attending school,” staff journalist Roberto Paglialonga wrote in his op-ed. “The plight of the displaced in Lebanon is a tragedy beyond all imagination.”

Saturday of the Fourth Week of Lent in the early ages of Christianity, was called Sitientes, taken from the first word of the original Introit of the Mass meaning "Thirsting." The Church was addressing her catechumens in the words of Isaiah and invites them to thirst after the grace to come and receive it in the holy Sacrament of Baptism. This marked the last day of the Lenten season before entering into Passiontide. In the current Liturgical calendar the last day of Lent before Holy Week would be Saturday of the Fifth Week of Lent, but the beginning of the Paschal Triduum on Holy Thursday evening marks the official end of the Lenten season.

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